Almost every day there is a call in the media for a public inquiry and over the last few years, public inquiries following human tragedy have become part of the fabric of our public life, but do they do any good?

ANALYSIS: PUBLIC INQUIRIES

A Radio 4 Current Affairs Documentary
Originally broadcast 30 October, 2008, 8:30 pm
Repeat broadcast Sunday 2 November, 2008. 21.30 GMT

Presenter: Ann Alexander
Producer: Jim Frank

About The Programme

Almost every day there is a call in the media for a public inquiry and over the last few years, public inquiries following human tragedy have become part of the fabric of our public life, but do they do any good?

In this documentary, Ann Alexander asks those at the very heart of the Inquiry process, some speaking publicly for the first time, about the effectiveness of the system, how it really works and whether lessons are actually learnt for the future.

About Ann Alexander

In June 2001, Ann Alexander won the right to have a Public Inquiry as the lawyer for the families of those murdered by Harold Shipman, That process later unearthed the extent of Shipman's crimes and exposed systemic failings in the NHS. More...